Their parents Angela and Daniel Formosa were told the girls had a low chance of survival.

But after a successful separation operation at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh), the identical twins lead happy and healthy lives and are preparing to start school next month.

The Kent twins are "very excited" to be starting school like their big sister Lily (9), Mrs Formosa said. "Four years ago it wasn't in my mind that this would ever happen. When I was pregnant I didn't think I'd ever see their first day at school so it is really amazing and all thanks to Gosh, really," she added.